A roadmap for U.S. China cooperation on energy and climate change
The world faces no greater challenge in the 21st century than arresting the rapidly increasing accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change. The two largest producers of these gases are the United States and China. Their cooperation is essential if there is to be a solution to the daunting climate change challenge. If the United States and China can become active catalysts in bringing about a strategic transformation to a low-carbon, sustainable global economy, the world will take a giant step forward in combating climate change. This report explicates both a rationale and an outline for beginning a more comprehensive program of U.S.-China collaboration on energy and climate change that builds on decades of U.S.-China cooperation on energy and environment. It calls for initial engagement at a presidential summit, but also outlines some of the critical project areas that should be jointly explored through practical collaboration by officials at other levels of government as well as by the private sector.